Fees for County Services May Increase
County Commissioner Marck Schafer said at a commissioners court meeting Aug. 13 that he thinks it’s time for the county to look at the prices it charges for private work. He said his research shows that the county’s cost for operating a dump truck is about $40 per hour, and at current prices, the county is losing too much money doing private work. He said the county shouldn’t compete with private companies, and its prices shouldn’t discourage private enterprises. He said construction companies charge $55 per hour plus 50 cents per yard for dump truck hauling.
Currently, the county charges $45 per hour for private work done with maintainers, loaders, and dozers. Hauling is priced by the load, at $3 per yard, and the total depends on whether a 6, 12 or 18-yard truck is used. A load in a 12-yard truck costs $36. Water is $36 in a tandem truck, $54 in a transport. Materials such as caliche, dirt and sand are priced at the county’s cost of $1 per yard. Refined materials from Laredo Paving are $4.50 per ton for screen base; $5.50 per ton for state base and a sales tax of 6.25 percent is charged on refined materials.
Strube Defends Private Work
Commissioner Michael Hoch said, “We’re not in it for profit; it’s hard to say if we’re breaking even.”
Commissioner Mark Halfmann questioned whether companies were losing business because of the county’s private work, but said it might be time to look at raising prices.
Commissioner Jimmy Strube said material costs have increased, and those increases have been passed through to the consumer. He said he would agree if the court’s majority wanted to raise prices.
Schafer said the only private work he does in his precinct is on roads, and he gets flak because other commissioners do more.
Strube said more private work is done in his precinct than in others because more people in the precinct live in the country. He added that most county volunteers come from his precinct and he “...tries to provide service to those who serve the county.” He said he only does work for residences, and charges for all of it.
The matter was tabled with no decision being made.